The Indiana General Assembly resumes today. No business has been conducted in the House since the session began Wednesday, as the chamber’s Democrats continued their boycott over a Republican-led labor bill.But Democratic Leader Patrick Bauer acknowledged Friday that they can’t stall forever and said his caucus might return to the chamber today.The so-called “right-to-work” measure cleared its first legislative hurdle Friday, when it won Senate committee approval. The bill would prohibit the collection of mandatory union representation fees at private companies.Other business still to be addressed in the short legislative session includes a proposed statewide smoking ban, and an education bill that would require schools to teach cursive writing.It’s co-sponsored by Republican Senator Mike Delph, who says children need to learn to sign their names and to read cursive script.The Indiana Education Department last year gave schools the option of not teaching cursive writing in favor of more instruction on keyboard use.Governor Mitch Daniels will deliver his State of the State address to lawmakers Tuesday evening.(Information for this story also came from the Associated Press)
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.
